Catholic Church in Rethymno

A jewel of the area, the Catholic church of Saint Anthony in Rethymno stands out.

According to FORTH (Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas), the church’s architect was Nikola Mancusco, an amateur engineer who also built other larger churches in Souda and Heraklion, which were completely destroyed during World War II.

By 1974, the church was in dire condition. In 1980, the Church of Saint Anthony was restored thanks to the support of local believers and foreigners, mainly Swiss.

The Roman Catholic presence in Rethymno dates back many centuries. During the Venetian period, the city was the seat of a Roman Catholic bishop, and the Cathedral of Saint Francis, located on Ethnikis Antistaseos street, served as the episcopal church.

Today, only a few Roman Catholics live in Rethymno, but the congregation grows significantly during the summer months — from March to November, when numerous tourists flood the city and attend mass at the church.